Ocean County officially ushered in a new era of recycling with a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of changes at the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center that allows for single stream recycling.

“We know that our residents and municipalities are already benefiting from this project which is making recycling easier,” Freeholder Director James F. Lacey said, who serves as liaison to the county’s award winning recycling program.

All bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard, junk mail, magazines and mixed paper can now be placed in one container and placed at the curb.

Initial reports indicate that recycling tonnage has increased by 20 percent and municipalities are starting to see a growing financial impact as a result of less material going to the landfill.